Natural astaxanthin enhanced antioxidant capacity and improved semen quality through the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway in aging layer breeder roosters

Background:Natural astaxanthin(ASTA)has strong antioxidant properties and has been widely used as a health product to improve human health.However,the effects of ASTA on the reproductive performance of aging roosters have been poorly studied.We aimed to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on semen quality and antioxidant capacity in aging roosters and to explore the potential mechanism of semen quality change via antioxidation defense system.Methods:In the present study,9653-week-old Jinghong No.1 layer breeder roosters were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 0,25,50,or 100 mg/kg ASTA for 6 weeks.Results:Semen quality in the ASTA groups remarkably improved than that in the control group,and antioxidant activities,the abilities to scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions,increased gradually with ASTA addition(P<0.05).In addition,the mRNA levels of antioxidant enzymes as well as the mRNA and protein levels of the mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)were markedly increased in the 50-100 mg/kg ASTA group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Collectively,these results demonstrate that dietary ASTA may improve semen quality by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and the ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals,which may be related to upregulation of the MAPK/Nrf2 pathway.

Confining TiO_2 Nanotubes in PECVD-Enabled Graphene Capsules Toward Ultrafast K-Ion Storage: In Situ TEM/XRD Study and DFT Analysis

Titanium dioxide(TiO2) has gained burgeoning attention for potassium-ion storage because of its large theoretical capacity,wide availability,and environmental benignity.Nevertheless,the inherently poor conductivity gives rise to its sluggish reaction kinetics and inferior rate capability.Here,we report the direct graphene growth over TiO2 nanotubes by virtue of chemical vapor deposition.Such conformal graphene coatings effectively enhance the conductive environment and well accommodate the volume change of TiO2 upon potassiation/depotassiation.When paired with an activated carbon cathode,the graphene-armored TiO2 nanotubes allow the potassium-ion hybrid capacitor full cells to harvest an energy/power density of 81.2 Wh kg-1/3746.6 W kg-1.We further employ in situ transmis sion electron microscopy and ope rando X-ray diffraction to probe the potassium-ion storage behavior.This work offers a viable and versatile solution to the anode design and in situ probing of potassium storage technologies that is readily promising for practical applications.

Exosomal miR-218 regulates the development of endometritis in dairy cows by targeting TGIF2/TGF-βpathway

Endometritis affects the reproductive capacity of dairy cows and leads to serious economic losses in dairy farming.Clarification of the pathogenesis of endometritis is necessary to improve the reproductive efficiency of dairy cows.Exosomes and their miRNAs have been proven to play an important role in inflammatory regulation.Exosomal miR-218 is a differentially expressed miRNA found in endometrial epithelial cells(EECs)under endometrial inflammation.Therefore,we investigated the expression of miR-218 in the uterine tissue of dairy cows,lipopolysaccharide(LPS)treated EECs,exosomal vesicles,and regulation of exosomal miR-218 by targeting TGIF-2 inducible factor homology frame 2(TGIF2)/transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-β).The expression of miR-218 was suppressed in inflammatory uterine tissues and LPS treated EECs.The expression of TGIF2 and TGF-βin inflammatory uterine tissues and LPS treated EECs was significantly higher than those in healthy uterine tissues and EECs(p<0.01).Interestingly,miR-218 derived from donor cells was found to regulate the expression of the target gene TGIF2 in recipient cells through the fusion of exosomes.Concurrently,the expression of its target gene TGIF2 was also suppressed by miR-218 in donor cells resulting in fewer TGIF2 being transported into recipient cells with exosomal fusion.This may be a novel mechanism of miRNAs-mediated regulation and provides a new reference for analyzing the pathogenesis of endometritis in dairy cows.

Correlation between microstructures and mechanical properties of high-speed friction stir welded aluminum hollow extrusions subjected to axial forces

The AA6005A-T6 aluminum hollow extrusions were friction stir welded at a high welding speed of 2000 mm/min and various axial forces. The results show that the nugget zone(NZ) is characterized by fine equiaxed grains, in which a low density of equilibrium phase is observed. The grains in the thermo-mechanically affected zone(TMAZ) are elongated, and the highest density of dislocations and a low density of ' precipitates can be found in grains. The heat affected zone(HAZ) only experiences a low thermal cycle, and a high density of " precipitates and a low density of ' precipitates remain in the coarsened grains. The microhardness evolutions in the NZ, TMAZ and HAZ are governed by the grain refinement and dislocation strengthening, the dislocation and precipitation strengthening, and the precipitation and solid solution strengthening, respectively. When increasing the axial force, the changing trend of one strengthening mechanism is contrary to the other in each zone, and the microhardness increases in different zones. As a result, the tensile strength roughly increases with raising the axial force, and all joints show good tensile properties as the high welding speed inhibits the coarsening and dissolution of strengthening precipitates significantly.

Soil characteristics and ecological thresholds of Suaeda salsa wetlands

Suaeda salsa is an annual euhalophyte in estuarine wetlands.Soil properties of wetlands have an important influence on S.salsa growth.Therefore,the soil ecological thresholds is valuable for the restoration of degraded S.salsa wetlands.The objectives of this present study were to analyze the soil physicochemical properties and evaluate the soil ecological thresholds in the typical degraded areas for S.salsa growth.Soil text components became coarser with increased sand contents and less clay contents,as the higher degree of wetland degradation.Meanwhile,the salt contents in different soil depths gradually increased with the increased degree of degradation of wetlands.Evident changes in soil water content,organic matter content,and cations concentrations were not observed,while the concentrations of these factors were higher in the soil layer of 0-10 cm than those in the 20-30 cm.The soil pH in the 0-10 cm soil layer was lower than that in the 20-30 cm.The content of the three available nutrients did not change evidently with the increasing degree of degradation.The optimum thresholds of soil salinity and water content were 7.073-16.613 g/kg and 31.8-63.2%,respectively.